Undergarment



Aug. 28, 1934. A, WYCKOFF 1,971,669

UNDERGARMENT Filed Feb. 16. 1952 INVENTOR- flzMA 0. WYC/(OFF.

ATTOR N EYj as to achieve a simple unitary structure which.

Patented Aug. 28, 1934 UNITED STATES 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improvement in an apparel garment and particularly to womens undergarments of the unitary combination type.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, efiicient unitary garment comprising an effective combination of a brassiere or bust supporter, a vest, a girdle, and a skirt with or without panties or drawers.

A further object is to provide a simple, smooth, straight line corselette extending from the breasts all the way'to a point below the widest point of the hips, made of substantiallythe same material, having no appreciable overlap, and comprising essentially a brassiere, a vest, and

-a girdle.

Another object is to so combine these elements will" fit snugly and smoothly on the person of the wearer each element effectively achieving its function while providing a garment which will lie sufllcientl'y close to the body of the wearer to prevent wrinkling or gathering underneath lightweight dresses now worn, which wrinkling or gathering has been hitherto an objection not readily overcome.

A further objectis to provide a garment comprising a brassiere, a vest, a girdle and a skirt together withpanties so that when such a garment is worn with a thin light-weight dress on the street it is not necessary to wear an extra slip or petticoat.

A still further object is to provide a garment formed by combining the above elements in which there is a minimum of overlap between the respective elements'a'nd in which there is absolutely no overlap of the elements of the garment above the lower edge of the girdle thereby achieving a garment which lies absolutely snug and 40 smooth without bulging or wrinkling above the lower edge-of the girdle.

It is to be observed that the brassiere, the vest, and the girdle, form a simple unitary garment, made of substantially the same material with no overlap, achieving a smooth, straight line effect to lie snug on the body and avoid the formation 'of wrinkles. This unit is the corselette part of the'whole garment.

Yet a further object includes the provision of a combination garment as above described with provision for supporting hosiery and with provision for ready donning and removal of the garment and also provided with proper reinforcements such as boning or stays when particular types of figure may require such reinforcement.

PATENT OFFICE-4' Further and more specific objects, features'and advantages will more clearly appear from a consideration of the specification hereinafter taken.

in connection with the accompanying drawingwhich forms part of the specification and which illustrate a present preferred form of the inven- I tion.

Briefly and generally considered the invention comprises a unitary combination undergarment comprising at the top a brassire which may or may not be reinforcedas desired, to which there is preferably integrally attached at its lower end the respective elements joined successively together, either in separate pieces or in one piece and with no overlap between the respective elements so that the garment will lie snug and smooth on the body of the wearer with the minimum likelihood of bulging or wrinkling which is extremely objectionable especially when worn with the form clinging dresses now in vogue.

Preferably the garment along the side from the shoulder dow for opening.

hooks and eyes or a zipper arrangement. The garment is also provided with shoulder straps at the top which may or may not be detached for ready cleansing. The preferred form of garment also includes the provision of panties or drawers beneath the skirt and attached to the same lower edge of the girdle as the'skirt, also. a plurality of hose supporters are preferably detachably fastened to the lower edge of the girdle beneath the panties and being detachable so that they may be readily removed to be washed or replaced.

It will be noted that with the form of gar ment not including the panty structure it is a four-piece structure with the elements connected respectively and in line with each other not overlapping and, therefore, achieving a'sub-' stantially fitted-'straight-line effect or fo1'm-fit tothe hip is provided with means ch means may be in the form of,

garment with elastic inserts along the line of ormay not be boned or stayed but may be reinforced in this manner or by elastic inserts as style requirements and figure requirements may dictate. This garment, therefore, combines at least four elements in a straight-line relation. In a preferred form with the panty it is a ,five-piece straight-line affair dependent from the shoulder straps and with no overlapping above the bottom of the girdle. The weight and/or fit of the garment as thus constituted will efficiently tend to hold the shoulder straps in position. Preferably the various elements may be made of the same kind of material although this is not essential, since the girdle and brassiere portion may be reinforced or may be made of heavier material to achieve whatever confining or molding efiects may be desired.

The preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawing, of which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing a female figure wearing the five-piece garment including both the skirt and the panties;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the figure wearing a four-piece garment without the panties; and

Fig. 3 shows a figure wearing the five-piece opening on one side.

As shown in the drawing the present preferred forms of the garment comprise a unitary a skirt 14, and shoulder straps 15.

The brassiere portion may or may not be provided, if desired, as shown with lines of reinforcement such as 16. This reinforcement may be in the form of stays, bones, elastic inserts or any other suitable elements to confine or mold the figure and this portion may also be made of heavier material, if desired.

The vest portion is usually made of smooth lightweight material now in use and is attached either separately or integrally on the lower edge of the brassiere portion. The vest portion preferably extends integrally continuously into the girdle portion 12 which extends around the hips and to a point below the thighs, as indicated by the numeral 16a. The vest and girdle portion may also be provided with lines of reinforcement 17 of any suitable nature desired. The brassiere, the vest and the girdle form a corselette. This is made of somewhat similar material both in weight and quality and has no appreciable overlap and therefore will always lie flat and snug to the body without wrinkling. This wrinkling is very objectionable and will always occur when there is anysubstantial difference in the weight or texture of various parts of a single garment and especially when the various parts are connected in an overlapping manner.

To the lower edge 16a of the corselette there is attached a dependent skirt portion which extends from a point between the knees and the hip line, namely, from the lower edge 16a of the girdle to a point well below the knees and preferably to a point at least half between the knees and the feet. This skirt may be of any; desired type or length but is preferably circular and cut to assume a slight flare along the bottom edge. When the garment comprises five pieces or elements these include drawers or panties 13 which are fastened to the same lower edge 16a of the girdle inside the skirt 14. The hose supporters 18 are also attached to the lower edge of the girdle inside of the panties and are preferably detachable as are the shoulder straps 15 for the purpose of being readily washed. In the form shown in Fig. 3, a section 19 of elastic material may be inserted, if desired to effect any confining or molding which may be required in the case of style figure demands. eral edge of the garment extending from the shoulder to a point in the girdle may be provided with any suitable detaching means such as hooks and eyes 20 or a suitable slide fastener. The elastic material may be positioned at different places as indicated at the side and/or in front as shown, and the lengths of the elastic material or webbing may be varied as desired or to form a particular style of garment.

The form shown in Fig. 1 illustrates the fivepiece garment. In Fig. 2 the four-piece garment is shown and in Fig. 3 the five-piece garment with the elastic inserts along the sides. It is to be noted that in regard to the brassire, vest, girdle and skirt that they are connected successively and respectively along their adjacent edges and do not overlap so that this particular four-piece garment is a straight-line affair preferably made of the same material, but capable of being strengthened or reinforced along the chosen portions as desired, hanging evenly from the shoulder straps in a straight-line or figure clinging manner absolutely fiat and withoutany tendency to wrinkle or bulge beneath the dress.

In the five-piece garment the only overlap is between the skirt and the panties and this overlap is along a portion of the garment below the thighs where dresses and garments are not usually intended to be confining in any particular degree and consequently the overlap here is of no detrimental effect but even in the five-piece garment from the bottom of the corselette upwards there is no objectionable overlap.

Therefore, I have achieved a simple five or four piece garment with no substantial overlap in any part of the garment where such an over- The latlap would be detrimental, which can be worn beneath street or evening dress without requiring the use of a slip or petticoat and which will lie absolutely fiat and smooth. This garment is capable of being reinforced either by receiving boning material in any portion or by reinforcing the various portions in any well known or desired manner. The garment can be very quickly and easily removed and applied, and the garters and shoulder straps can be easily removed for washing.

While the invention has been described in detail and with respect to a present preferred form thereof it is not to be limited to such details and forms since many changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest aspects. Hence it is desired to cover any and all forms and modifications of the invention which may come within the language or scope of any one or more of the appended claims.

What is claimed, is: l

1. A unitary combination undergarment comprising a brassire, a vest, a girdle and a skirt successively and respectively connected and aligned without overlapping, said skirt extending to a point below the knees and acting as a substitute for a slip.

2. A unitary combination undergarment comprising a brassiere, a vest and a girdle of one piece of material, shoulder straps at the top detachably fastened at the side and a skirt connected to the lower edge of the girdle, said skirt extending to a point below the knees and acting as a substitute for a slip.

3. A unitary combination undergarment comprising a brassiere, a vest and a girdle of one piece of material, shoulder straps at the top detachably fastened at the side and a skirt connected to the lower edge of the girdle without overlapping,- said skirt extending to a point below the knees and acting as a substitute for a slip, and panties connected to the lower edge of the girdle beneath the skirt.

4. A unitary combination undergarment com prising a brassire, a vest and a girdle successively and respectively connected to each otheralong adjacent edges, means for reinforcing said portions, detachable fastening means along one side of said elements to permit ready application and removal of said garment,elastic inserts on the garment along the opening edges and a skirt connected to the bottom of the edge of the girdle, said skirt extending to a point below the knees and acting as a substitute for a slip, the brassiere, the vest, and the girdle being respectively connected edge to edge without substantial overlap.

5. A unitary combination undergarment comprising a brassiere, a-vest and a girdle successively and respectively connected to each other along adjacent edges, means for reinforcing said portions, detachable fastening means along one side of said elements to permit ready application and removal of said garment, elastic inserts on thegarment along the opening ed es and a skirt connected to the bottom ofthe edge of the girdle and panties connected to the bottom of the girdle beneath the skirt, the brassiere, the vest, and the girdle being respectively connected edge to edge without substantial overlap.

6. A unitary combination undergarment comprising a brassiere, a vest and a girdle successively and respectively connected to each other along adjacent edges, means for reinforcing said portions, detachable fastening means along one side of said elements to permit ready application and removal of said garment, elastic inserts on the garment along the opening edges and a skirt connected to the bottom of the edge of the girdle, said skirt extending to a point below the knees and acting as a substitute for a slip, and. panties connected to the bottom of the girdle beneath the skirt, and hose supporters detachably fastened to the lower edge of the girdle inside the panties, the brassiere, the vest, and the girdle being respectively connected edge to edge without substantial overlap.

7. A unitary garment comprising a brassiere, a vest, and a girdle, connected respectively edge to edge without substantial overlap and extending from the breasts to below the widest part of the hips in a smooth straight line manner to avoid wrinkling and bulging, and a skirt fixed to the lower part of the girdle at a point below the widest part of the hips and extending downwardly below the knees to act as a slip.

ALMA D. WYCKOFF. 

